Bumper cars join Modern Woodmen Park amusements

Already home to award-winning improvements and amusements rides, Modern Woodmen Park will give its guests another unique thrill, as the Spin Zone Bumper Cars had their ribbon cutting Friday at the ballpark. A set of five cars have been installed in the K&K Hardware Kids Zone adjacent to the Party Plaza down the first-base line at Modern Woodmen Park.

The bumper cars add to a fun-packed lineup of amusements that includes the Ferris wheel atop the berm in left field, the Mediacom Drop'N Twist and Space Camp in the Party Plaza, as well as the dual zip line that operates on South Gaines Street outside the ballpark on game days.

Each of the Spin Zone Bumper Cars from Amusement Products seat one driver, who controls the car with a lever on each side of the car. The drivers can bump their cars into one another, and for added excitement, if a driver hits another car on one of its Spin Zone Targets, that car will be sent into three 360-degree revolutions while it flashes LED lights - showing other drivers the car has been hit. The ride operator can also add to the fun with Chaos Mode that sends all cars into similar spins.

"Every kid loves bumper cars, so the Spin Zone Bumper Cars make a great addition to the Modern Woodmen Park amusements lineup," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "Now, for the first time at any ballpark, our fans can create their own amusement experience - by driving the Spin Zone Bumper Cars, sending other cars into crazy spins, and delighting riders and viewers with a light show and unpredictable - and unforgettable - fun!"

The amusements are open during all River Bandits home games, normally beginning 60 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. The Ferris wheel is also open every Saturday - weather permitting - from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as Saturday non-game days 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Spin Zone Bumper Cars will cost five tickets. Fans can purchase tickets for $1 each or buy 25 tickets for $20.

UP NEXT: Gates open at 6 p.m. for Autism Awareness Night, when the River Bandits will wear special caps to be auctioned during the game to benefit the Quad Cities Autism Center. The 7 p.m. game is a Fireworks Friday presented by Smart Toyota of Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: With the installation of the Ferris Wheel, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931, and this year the club is matching that effort by opening three new areas. A two-tiered special group deck immediately behind and overlooking the corn field opened in June. A new 11,000-square-foot concourse expansion down the third-base line will open late August. Finally, the club has expanded the children's play area by an additional 5,500 square feet down the right-field line, with additional bounce houses and the newest ride - Spin Zone Bumper Cars - as the latest attraction.